Nut-lock.



No; 869,663. I PATEN'TED JULY 23, 1907.

J. w. HIGGINBOTHAM.

NUT LOOK;

APPLICATION FILED APE,18,1907.-

me /wboz elite (mugs JOHN W. HIGGINBOTHAM, OF HEIZER, WEST VIRGINIA.

NUT-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented July 23, 1907.

Application filed April 13,1907- Serial No. 368,030.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. HIGGINBOTHAM, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Heizer, in the county of Putnam and State of WestVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inNut-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention pertains to improvements in nut locks and has forits object to provide a novel and efficient means whereby the nuts maybe positively prevented from working loose.

The invention also aims to accomplish this result by means of a simpleand comparatively inexpensive construction which can be readily appliedto any of the conventional forms of bolts in common use.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a nut lock embodying the presentinvention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the nut lock, the variousmembers being detached. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view throughthe nut lock. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view,

showing a modification.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

Specifically describing the invention the numeral 1 designates a bolt ofthe usual type provided with the threaded end 2. Fitted upon the bolt 1is a washer member 3, the outer face of which has the inner edge thereofbeveled to form the depression 4 surrounding the bolt receiving openingextending through the said washer member. A nut 5 having any approvedconfiguration is screwed upon the threaded portion 2 of the bolt 1 andcooperates therewith in the usual manner. The inner face of the nut 5 isformed with a depression 6 surrounding the bolt receiving opening, thewalls of the said depression being inclined and formed with the radialnotches or teeth 7 constituting a ratchet surface. The depression 6 inthe nut and the depression 4 in the washer member face each other andform a chamber which receives a split ring 8. One end of the split ring8 carries an inwardly extending tooth 9 designed to bite into thethreaded portion of the bolt and prevent the rotation of the ringthereon,

' while the opposite end of the split ring is reduced in cross sectionand bent outwardly so as to have a spring engagement with the notches 7.The ring 8 normally fits loosely upon the bolt 1 so as to rotate freelythereon and slide longitudinally and has an approximately triangularcross section, the inclined sides being designed to engage the beveledwalls of the depressions 6 and 4 in the nut and washer membersrespectively. Owing to this construction the said beveled walls of thedepressions have a wedge-like action upon the split ring and operatewhen screwed tightly against I each other to compress the split ring andclamp the same around the bolt, thereby forcing the tooth 9 to bite intothe threads 2 and effectively locking the ring against rotary movement.The outwardly bent extension of the split ring then has a ratchet likeengagement with the notches 7 which permits the nut to be screwed intoposition, but prevents any backward movement thereof.

When employed in conjunction with machines or the like as shown in Fig.4, one of the members being bolted together may constitute the washermember and have the depression 4 formed directly therein. The operationof the locking device, however, is identical with that previouslydescribed.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is:

1. In a nut lock, the combination of a belt, a washer member received bythe bolt, a nut cooperating with the bolt, said washer member and nutbeing provided with cooperating inclined walls, and a split ringinterposed between the washer member and the nut and engaging the beforementioned inclined walls whereby it is wedged into engagement with thebolt when the nut is tightened.

2. In a nut lock, the combination of a belt, a washer member received bythe belt, a nut cooperating with the bolt, the said washer member andnut being provided with cooperating inclined walls, and a split ringinterposed between the washer member and thenut and designed to becompressed by engagement with the before mentioned inclined walls whenthe nut is tightened, one end of the split ring engaging the nut toprevent the same from Working loose.

3. In a nut lock, the combination of a belt, a washer member received bythe bolt, a nut cooperating with the bolt, the said washer member andnut being provided upon their adjacent faces with coiiperating inclinedwalls, and a split ring interposed between the'washer member and nut andhaving an approximately triangular cross section whereby it iscompressed into engagement with the bolt when the nut is tightened, oneend of the split ring having a positive engagement with the bolt whilethe opposite end engages the nut to lock the same against working loose.

4. In a nut lock, the combination of a bolt, a washer member received bythe bolt and provided on its outer face with a depression surroundingthe bolt receiving opening and formed with inclined sides, a nutcooperating with the bolt and provided upon its inner face with adepression formedwith inclined walls having radial notches formedtherein, and a split ring having an approximately triangular crosssection and fitting within the chamber formed by the correspondingdepressions in the washer member and nut, one end of the split ringcarrying a tooth designed to bite into the bolt while the opposite endis extended outwardly and is adapted to have a spring engagement withthe above mentioned notches in the nut, the inclined walls of the saiddepressions cooperating with each other to wedge the split ring againstthe bolt.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN V. IIIGGINBOTHAM." [L. 5.]

Witnesses LETHA C. McKnn, ROENA MCKEE.

